In the middle of Beowulf, the Danish king Hrothgar warns the titular hero about pride.
0 flower of warriors, beware of that trap.
From Beowulf
Choose, dear Beowulf, the better part,
eternal rewards. Do not give way to pride.
For a brief while your strength is in bloom
but it fades quickly; and soon there will follow
illness or the sword to lay you low,
or a sudden fire or surge of water
or jabbing blade or javelin from the air
or repellent age. Your piercing eye
will dim and darken; and death will arrive,
dear warrior, to sweep you away.
The next time I teach this poem, I will pair this passage with these verses from Psalm 90…
Continue reading “Hrothgar and David”